Asian/Asian American Studies

Asian Studies minors are fearless humanists. Intrigued by the arts, sciences, languages, religions and geographies, by the cultures of Asia, they dedicate half a dozen of their college courses to an enviable experiment of truth. They re-envision beauty, duty, work, family, prosperity, philosophy. They risk estrangement within their own world in order to see more precisely what this world looks like to the 60% of humans who live in Asia.

They're idealists; they're skeptics; they're reformers; they're artists. They are full of wonder about how other systems work, about how other people survive or thrive, about what constitutes a good life in the region which the Greeks call Asia?.

Asian Studies minors may concentrate their attention on China or Japan, learning enough of those languages to fuel a life of further learning. They may engage with India, play with henna, learn ragas, stick with English (one of the sub-continent's many official languages). They may study abroad. They may attend most carefully to the impact which Asian cultures have had on Americans, exploring experiences of Americans whose ancestry is Asian. In any case, Asian Studies minors are among the liveliest, most open-minded, most curious and thoughtful persons you'll ever meet.

To discuss any questions about the minor program, please contact the Chair or other committee members.